AP: Superiors Hindered Terror Prosecutors

[DoYouEverWonder]

WASHINGTON - Prosecutors in the first major terror trial after Sept. 11 were hindered by superiors from presenting some of their most powerful evidence, including testimony from an al-Qaida leader and video footage showing Osama bin Laden's European operatives casing American landmarks, Justice Department memos show.

The department's terrorism unit "provided no help of any kind in this prosecution," the U.S. Attorney's office in Detroit wrote in one of the memos, which detail bitter divisions between front-line prosecutors and their superiors in Washington.

The Detroit case ended last summer with the convictions, hailed by the Bush administration, of three men who were accused of operating a sleeper terror cell that possessed plans for attacks around the world.

<snip>

Other memos show the chief of the elite organized crime strike force in Detroit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Corbett, challenged the judgment of Justice's terrorism chief, Barry Sabin.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

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Well if Ashcroft isn't too busy busting grandmas for medical marijuana, his agents are too busy playing basketball to bother investigating al Qaeda. What a crew!

Now tell me again, how does this make us safer?







http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040808/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terror_trial

[annabanana]

1. deserves a "5" for sure.

[Kadie]

2. GOP senator intervenes on behalf of Detroit terror prosecutors - link

GOP senator intervenes on behalf of Detroit terror prosecutors

The Associated Press


Last Updated: August 8, 2004, 10:09:49 AM PDT


WASHINGTON (AP) - In blunt, private letters, the Senate Finance Committee chairman has told Attorney General John Ashcroft he believes the Justice Department has retaliated against prosecutors in a Detroit terror trial because they cooperated with Congress.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has written Ashcroft or his deputies at least three times to accuse department officials of taking "hostile actions" and "reprisals" against the trial prosecutors.

In one letter, Grassley demanded that Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino and his colleagues in Detroit "be made whole and not suffer reprisals." The senator asked Ashcroft to rectify the matter before it begins "exposing the department to public criticisms."

Grassley also dismissed as "bureaucratic, legalistic spin" the department's explanations for why the prosecution team was subjected to internal investigation.

more...
http://www.modbee.com/24hour/politics/story/1551965p-9118286c.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Ashcroft is such a good christian

So honest and straight forward. He would never treat anyone unfairly and always does his best to bring the terrorists to justice.

[HereSince1628]

8. And "THAT" is exactly what is wrong with the stupid Missourian

His idea of 'SHOW ME' is...Give me the talking points!

Oh, to be beat by a dead man's wife. That must really be hard to live with...BUT WHY TAKE IT OUT ON THE WORLD YOU D.S.O.B.!

[Eloriel]

9. He was beat by a dead man. The wife (former Sen. Carnahan)

was appointed later. It was made clear before the election, however, that the Governor of MO would do so. So, in a sense I guess he was beat by a dead man's wife, but just so you know she wasn't ON the ballot.

[HereSince1628]

10. Thanks, but distinction without a difference, I think.

Keep up the good work Eloriel!!!!!!!

[amandabeech]

7. I'm glad to see that there are some responsible GOP types out there.

Grassley actually sounds concerned about the country rather than his position in the BFEE. Well, at least with respect to this case.

[jilln]

4. actually I do feel safer...

knowing that Asscraft's storm troopers are playing basketball instead of something more sinister. Maybe he was playing with kids, which makes him a better kind of Big Brother than the one Asscraft wants him to be.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Okay, this is really curious -- what's the story??? nt

[WillyT]

6. Jesus...

:kick:

[Moderator]

11. DoYouEverWonder

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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DU Moderator